lew@ihuxr.UUCP (Lew Mammel, Jr.) (03/26/84)
This is from SCIENCE: GOOD, BAD, AND BOGUS by Martin Gardner, page 269, and is referring to Ronald Reagan: Addressing a gathering of fundamentalists in August 1980 he announced that the theory of evolution was "just a theory" and was marred by "great flaws." He said he favored the teaching of creationism in the schools as an alternative theory. I tried looking this up in the NEW YORK TIMES, but the evolution stuff wasn't mentioned in their article. This was the speech in which Reagan declared that the Bible contained the answer to every problem facing mankind. The speech was given on August 21, 1980. I think he spoke again the next day, so the evolution remarks could have occurred then. By way of contrast, Gardner quotes a statement of Jimmy Carter's which appeared in the November 1980 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN. It was a response to a solicitation by the editors. I'll quote it in full: The scientific evidence that the earth was formed about four-and- a-half billion years ago and that life developed over this period of time is convincing. I believe that responsible science and religion work hand in hand to provide important answers concerning our existence on the earth. My own personal faith leads me to believe that God is in control of the ongoing processes of creation. Insofar as the school curriculum is concerned, state and local school boards should exercise that responsibility in a manner consistent with the Constitutional mandate of separation of church and state. Jimmy, we hardly knew ye. Lew Mammel, Jr. ihnp4!ihuxr!lew